How I Learned to Love Reading—and Why It Made Me a Better Leader

Every great leader I’ve admired has one thing in common: they’re constantly learning. And one of the best ways they do it is through reading.

But I’ll be honest, reading non-fiction never came naturally to me. I would dive into a book, get hooked on the first big idea, and then stall out. The rest of the book sat on my shelf while I carried a vague sense of guilt about not finishing it. I thought leaders were supposed to read the “right” way, sitting still with a highlighter, taking notes, squeezing out every ounce of wisdom.

The problem? That wasn’t me.

Then I discovered audiobooks. I started listening while walking, pairing movement with learning. And suddenly, everything clicked. I didn’t have to force myself to sit still; I could learn while moving. I went from barely finishing one book a year to consuming multiple books that inspire, empower, and encourage me.

Here’s what I’ve learned: reading doesn’t have to look one way. It’s not about the format, it’s about the input. The goal is consistent learning, not the perfect method.

The Leadership ROI of Reading

One of the greatest returns a leader can get is from a book. Why? Because books condense decades of research, experience, and failure into something you can access for a few dollars and a few hours of your time.

Think about the math:

• A $10-$20 book

• A weekend or a few walks’ worth of listening

• In exchange, you gain insights that took the author years, sometimes decades to uncover.

As Warren Buffett once told students at Columbia Business School: “Read 500 pages a day. That’s how knowledge builds up, like compound interest.”

Examples of “High ROI” Books

• Stephen Covey – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  Covey spent decades studying effectiveness, both personally and organizationally, before boiling it down to seven timeless habits. I spent $10 and a handful of hours and walked away with life-changing principles. That’s compounding knowledge.

• Jim Collins – Good to Great
  Collins led a five-year research project with a team of 21 researchers. They analyzed 1,435 established companies to discover what separated the good from the great. The result, documented in his bestselling book Good to Great, is a framework leaders can apply immediately, without needing a research team.

• Daniel Kahneman – Thinking, Fast and Slow
  Kahneman won a Nobel Prize for his research into human decision-making. Instead of trying to replicate decades of psychology experiments, you can pick up his book and instantly recognize your own biases in everyday decisions.

• Angela Duckworth – Grit
  Ten years of studying perseverance and passion distilled into practical lessons for leaders and teams.

These aren’t just books; they’re shortcuts to wisdom you could never gather on your own.

Different Ways Leaders Can Read

One of the biggest lessons I learned is this: reading doesn’t have to look just one way. The goal isn’t to sit still with a highlighter, it’s to find a format that keeps you consistently learning.

Here are a few ways leaders can “read” today:

• Traditional Books – For those who enjoy the focus and depth of the printed page.

• Audiobooks (Audible, Libby, Scribd) – Perfect for pairing with walks, commutes, or workouts.

• Summary Apps (Blinkist, Headway, Instaread) – Condensed key ideas in 15–20 minutes. These apps are ideal when time is short.

• Podcasts & Author Interviews – Hear authors expand on their research and ideas in their own words.

• eBooks (Kindle, Apple Books) – Portable, searchable, and note-friendly. This is great for leaders on the go.

• Book Clubs & Masterminds – Discussing with peers brings new perspectives and accountability.

• Micro-Learning Apps (MentorBox, Medium) – Daily bite-sized lessons to keep knowledge flowing.

 I’m sure there are statistics out there that show reading a physical book leads to greater retention or deeper comprehension. And that may be true. But here’s how I see it: engaging in a book in any format is far better than not reading at all. For me, the choice wasn’t between reading and listening, it was between listening and never finishing. And I’ll take finished, absorbed, and applied over guilt and half-read books every single time. The point is simple: don’t let guilt or “the right way” stop you. Leaders keep learning by choosing the format that works for them.

The Takeaway for Leaders

Leaders don’t just read for themselves. What you learn multiplies. It shows up in how you lead your team, the culture you shape, the decisions you make, and even the way you navigate challenges.

The format doesn’t matter…paper, digital, or audio. What matters is that you keep reading. The return on investment is too high to ignore.

So, find your way. For me, it’s audiobooks on a walk. For you, it may be something different. But don’t let guilt or an outdated definition of “real reading” hold you back.

Leaders are learners. And learners are readers.